Disappearing table



June 5, 1923.

E. O. ROBERTS DISAPPEARING TABLE 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed April 26 gwmni 'r Z7. H 0166 rta 61th:: M a q June 5, 1923.

E. O. ROBERTS DISAPPEARING TABLE Filed April 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l/I I IIIII/II .E'. 0.R0beri.9

i 5 J T 9 z 1Z-E I [III Patented June 5, 1923.

um'rao STATES 1,457,751 PATENT OFFICE.

O. ROBERTS, OF OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.

DISAPPEARING TABLE.

Application filed April 26, 1922. Serial No. 550524.

Disappearing Tables; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, con-- cise, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements" in furniture, having for an object to provide a novel form of wall table particularly desirable for usein the rooms of apartment buildin where quite often, space is either confine or limited and which may be conveniently employed as a breakfast table or various other purposes, the device, when not in use, being adapted to be folded into compact form and moved into a cabinet or receiving compartment therefor in the wall of a room equipped with the same.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a durable and simple table of the character mentioned having the top sections and legs thereof inter-connected in a manner whereby when the same are arrangedin operative or extended relation, a substantial or rigid support will be afforded.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part inted out hereinafter.

In or er that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawin and 1n the detailed following descri tion based thereon, set out several possi le embodiments of the same.

In these drawings:

Fi 1 is a perspective view; of the device 1n closed position;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section throu h thecabinet showing the table in extende position;

Fi re 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical fragmentary section through the cabinet shown in Figure 4; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail in rspective showing the construction of the egs as applied to the table top.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, and particularly to the form of the invention shown in the Figures 1, 2 and 3, my improved table may be stated to inelude in combination, a compartmen indi- Y 'cated in its entirety by the numeral 1 and the table proper adapted to be received by the compartment when not in use. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the compartment 1 is shown to consist of a cabinet having side and end walls while the top thereof is open, havin a. closure 3 including pivotally connecte boards or strips hinge atone end as at 4 to the end walls of the compartment or cabinet 1 in proximity to the to thereof and ada ted to be swung outwar y and downwardly so that the upper strip will close the open upper portion of the cabinet while the remaining strip will be swung over the open side portion of the cabinet at substantially ri ht angles to the first mentioned strip, where y to ully close the same as shown in the Figure 1. The outer or lower strip of the closure 3 has an inwardly swinging strip 3 hinged to its free marginal portion, said stri bemg of a thickness slightly greater than t at of the table top, whereby when said table is extended or setup, the strip 3' may be swung upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 in order that suflicient clearance between the lower strip of the closure 3 and the adjacent wall of the cabinet will be provided. When the table is folded and moved into the cabinet, the strip 3' will be permitted to swing downwardly small opening as shown in the Figures 1 and 2. Grooves or ways 5 are formed within the inner face of the opposite end walls of the cabinet and are disposed longitudinally thereof whereby to afford effectual guides for the table to 6, this latter element consisting of hinge y connected sections joined as at 7 and havin the inner end thereof pivotally and slida ly connected to the o posite end walls of the cabinet 1, the sli able connection, obviously, being afforded and close the 8, inter-connected by the cross brace 9 are pivoted to the free end of the table top 6 through the medium of arcuate hlnges or straps such hinged connect1on being such as to limit downwardly swinging movement of the legs in order that they will be retained in a substantially vertical position figpres, a compartment is forme with the extens'on of setting up of the table, but with olding of the same may be swung u wardly and onto the adjacent section of t e table top as indicated in dotted lines in the Fi ure 3. I

Fingers or pins 8 are arranged upon the upper ends of the legs 8 and are engageable in pockets formed therefor in the under side of the outer portion of the outer table top section 6 and serve to retain such legs in pro er relation to the same. 1

In t e'Fi res 4 and 5, I have shown a slightly modlfied form of my improved wall table, wherein instead of providing a cabinet such as indicated at 1, in the receding d 'for the le in the wall 1 of the room equipped therewith. The upper end of this compartment 1 is open to permit of pivotal and slidable connection of the inner end of the sectional table top 6' to the opposite side walls of the same, such open portion being adapted to be closed by means ofa hinged cover 11. The outer end of the sectional table to 6' is provided with pivotally con nected egs 8' corresponding to the legs 8 described in connection with the preceding embodiment in order that it will be supported when moved to its extended oroperative position.

If desired, I may, in some instances, provide weights 12 for the sectional table top, connecting the same thereto at a point adjacent its pivotal and sl1dable connection m the ways 5' formed in the opposite end walls of the compartment 1'. Thus, with movement of the folded table into the cabinet, the weights upon lowerin therein will exert a downward pull upon t e juxtaposed sections and in this way, facilitate the replacing of the device in its inoperative position.

It is of course, to be understood that the table top 6 or 6', hereinbefore described, ma be composed of any number of sections, suc as conditions or preference may dietate, and likewise, the length of the supporting legs 8 may be varied in order that they will support the table top in a true horizontal position when it is moved to its extended or operative position.

The operation of the device would seem to be obvious, but it may sufiice to state that by swinging either the covers 3 or 11 of their respective cabinets 1 and 1' to 0 en position, the upper end of the folded ta 1e top 6 may be engaged and then drawn upwardly by reason of the pivotal and slidable connection between the inner end thereof and the opposite end walls of the particular compartment receiving the same. When fully withdrawn from the compartment, the legs are swung over and downwardly to su stantially vertical positions, whereat they will afford efi'ectual supports for the outer ends of the now extended table top. To return the table to a position within its particular compartment, the operation is merely reversed, that is, the supporting legs are swung upwardly and over onto the adjacent section of the table top, whereupon said section together with the legs are folded over and upon the remaining sections, whereupon the juxtaposed elements are swung upwardly and caused to slide downwardly along the guide ways into the compartment whereupon the cover therefor is returned to its closed position.

Manifestly, the constructions shown are capable of still further modification and such modifications as are within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

In combination with a receiving compartment having the top and the upper portion of the front wall thereof open, a sectional door hingedly connected to said compartment and adapted to close the open top thereof and the opening formed at the upper portion of the front wall, a table comprising a sectional top, one section of said table top having one end thereof slidably and pivotally connected to the side walls of said complartment, a second table section hinged to t e free edge of the first table sectlon and adapted to fold thereupon, the ends of the two sections lying above the hinge and in abutting relation when the table is in position for use, the first table section having its inner end portion resting on the top of the front wall of the casing when in use, legs hingedly connected to the free edge of the second table section, said legs adapted to extend in a vertical direction below the second section of the table when the latter is in use and adapted to be folded upon said second section when not in use, said table sections and legs being of the same length and adapted to be folded Within said compartment, and said sectional door adapted to close the upper end of said compartment, when said table is in use, or when the latter is folded within the compartment.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELMER o. ROBERTS. 

